Archives for June 2017

I invested significantly in my smile about five years ago and had some cosmetic bonding done across most of my mouth. I have the tendency to grind at night, and so I had worn down most of my teeth and my front ones were so bad that the dentist had to rebuild quite a bit of them. However, the dental work is absolutely gorgeous. I saw a cosmetic specialist for it and she truly gave me a beautiful smile. I’m very mindful of it and I wear a nightguard now. About two weeks ago, I noticed that the gums below one of my molars was tender to the touch, so I went in to my regular dentist and had it looked at. He told me he thought the root had died some time ago, probably due to my grinding, and says the tooth is a total loss now. He gave me antibiotics to tide me over, but says I need to have the tooth pulled. However, he will not pull the tooth unless I sign a waiver saying he’s not responsible for any damage done to my teeth, including the cosmetic bonding I had done. This is unacceptable. If he damages it, he should correct it or pay to have it corrected. How should I approach this with him? I did try talking to him, but he says the agreement is standard and everyone signs it.

Thank you,

Meredith

Dear Meredith,

Before getting into the agreement, it’s a good idea to address why you need an extraction. If you had extensive work done just a few years ago, and have been following up with regular care since, and have continued to wear your night guard, why is he recommending an extraction? Unless you broke off a significant portion or have a large amount of decay, an extraction isn’t necessary. The tooth needs endodontic treatment (a root canal) and likely a crown, but you should be able to save it. Your primary goal should be to preserve it and hold onto that tooth for as long as possible. Unless there’s more to your story, your first step is to go get a second opinion and see if another dentist can save your tooth. If you’re unsure of who is good, check with the dentist who did your cosmetic bonding. If she doesn’t do general work, she will know someone who provides quality care outside cosmetics.

As far as the waiver goes, yes, that is standard. A skilled dentist may be able to avoid damaging your existing work, but if it’s extensive, there’s always room for something to go wrong. Most reputable dentists will do the repairs or pay for the repairs even though you’ve signed a waiver, but each one is different. The bottom line is that if you don’t have total faith in him not to damage your cosmetic bonding or you don’t believe he’ll help you correct it if damage is done, you should go somewhere you’re more comfortable.

This is going to sound a little weird, but I’m wondering if the same dental bonding technique that’s used on people can be used on dogs. I have an older German Shepheard named Max, and I noticed that he wasn’t eating as well as normal. I took a look in his mouth and there’s something up with one of his back teeth. I think it’s broken, but I really can’t tell. I called the vet and asked, but they want more than $100 just to check him out, and then when I asked about pricing, they started talking about having to put him out for an extraction. That all seems crazy. First off, I’m not even sure the tooth needs to be pulled. Secondly, I would think that they could save it using the same dental bonding technique that people get. I’ve had similar work done. Don’t animals get the same care? If so, what are my next steps? Will a human dentist help or how can I find a vet dentist who will do the work?

Thanks,

Raul

Dear Raul,

Yes, the dental bonding technique for dogs is a lot like what’s done for humans. Dogs can have all kinds of dental work done, from cleanings, to fillings, and even root canals. Most of the dental materials used are the same or similar to what you’d receive in the dental office, too, but it’s tailored to the canine patient.

A lot of the time, vets do extractions instead of saving teeth, simply because of all that’s involved and the long-term prognosis. However, no matter what the procedure is, they’re probably going to want to give the dog anesthesia, as pets don’t cooperate well with lengthy procedures and they don’t understand what’s happening, so even a good dog may bite out of fear.

Unfortunately, a dentist who treats humans is unlikely to be able to help you with this. Your best bet is to keep calling around to vets in your area and ask if they do restorative dental work on dogs. If they say no, be sure to ask if they know who does. Also, if the expenses worry you, look into pet insurance before you go in. You may be able to save a little bit of money that way. However, do keep a close eye on Max in the meantime. His teeth are a lot like yours, which means that they’re vulnerable to infections and he could start having some serious pain, even if he isn’t giving off a whole lot of signals right now. For his sake, it’s better safe than sorry; you should get him checked out by a vet as soon as possible.